Eddie Rodriguez announced Monday that he was opting out of an uphill battle for the Senate District 14 seat against former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt. Instead, Rodriguez said he would focus his efforts “on winning a Democratic majority and promoting an aggressive, progressive agenda in the Texas House.” Rodriguez, who has served in the […]
Judge Sarah Eckhardt
Eckhardt was elected Travis County Judge in November 2014, after previously serving as the Precinct 2 County Commissioner.
Posted inAustin
Austin leaders encourage peer pressure to get folks to wear face masks and avoid crowding spaces
Austin and Travis County officials are urging people to wear face coverings and to avoid large gatherings as the city and the state reopen for business. If that refrain sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard the song and it bears repeating, officials say, lest Austin see a surge in hospitalizations for Covid-19 that could cripple […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt’s watchword for 2018: Teamwork
Christmas came early for Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt when, on Dec. 11, no one from either of the two major parties stepped up to challenge her for her seat. That means Eckhardt will skate to a second term without the distractions of fighting to retain the Democratic nomination in March and fending off a […]
Posted inPublic Safety
African-Americans spend more time in Travis County jail for same offenses as whites
Travis County has a long way to go before its criminal justice system matches its progressive reputation, according to a report released Thursday by a local advocacy group. African-Americans booked into the county jail spend more time behind bars than whites charged with the same crime, said the analysis by Grassroots Leadership, a community organizing […]
Posted inAustin
‘Middle skill’ workforce plan aims to stabilize area’s poor, vulnerable residents
Austin and Travis County leaders’ focus on growing the region’s middle-class economy was spotlighted Thursday with the announcement of a multiyear effort to train local workers for a growing demand for so-called “middle skill” jobs. The release of the Master Community Workforce Plan, led in large part by the Workforce Solutions Capital Area nonprofit, came […]
Posted inTravis County
State of the County speech features state drama, innovative bonding and a surprise setback
In the early months of her third year in office, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is still bullish on the state of Travis County. On Wednesday evening, she told a large crowd gathered inside the Commissioners Court chambers that the county is “strong” and added, “There are many reasons to be optimistic about our future.” Eckhardt’s […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Just more fake news
Alt-facts… The national press has caught wind of Travis County’s skirmish with Gov. Greg Abbott over immigration policy, for better and worse. Reputable outlets such as CBS News and the Washington Post have deigned to talk to County Judge Sarah Eckhardt about the imbroglio that was sparked by Sheriff Sally Hernandez’s decision to no longer […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Eckhardt on Abbott’s cuts: “It’s retribution”
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is offering unequivocal support for Sheriff Sally Hernandez in the face of costly punishment meted out by Gov. Greg Abbott in response to Hernandez’s new policies regarding immigration enforcement. “We have done an extensive review of those policies, and it is plain that under current federal and state law, the sheriff’s […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt weighs in on sheriff’s new ICE policy
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has issued a blistering response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat to turn off the state funding spigot for Travis County programs over Sheriff Sally Hernandez’s decision to stop cooperating with federal immigration officials at the county jail. On Friday, Hernandez announced that her office will no longer honor most requests […]
Posted inTravis County
Eckhardt charts steady course for 2017
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says her administration is moving full speed ahead into the new year. In an interview with the Austin Monitor, Eckhardt said 2017 will be a year of continued progress on long-standing issues, and embracing a new colleague on the Travis County Commissioners Court. Looking back on 2016, the first female […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court tackles sanctuary communities, sexual assault in jail, and Trump
Uncertainty over federal immigration policy following the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump nearly derailed plans to fight back against sexual assault in Travis County jails. At its regular voting session on Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to accept a reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Justice for holding inmates with illegal immigration […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County’s courthouse plan B hinges on homeless support group’s failure
A nonprofit that supports homeless residents in Austin could dash Travis County’s short-term plans to accommodate its bulging civil courts needs. Members of the citizens advisory committee that is guiding the search for new court capacity learned on Wednesday night that Front Steps had submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]